Though 1985 is reckoned as one of the better years for Dead tours in the ‘80s, this particular Pick remains the only show from that year to see an official release. And it’s no wonder that the producers of the series selected this date; it offers an unusual song selection and strong performances throughout. “Stagger Lee,” “Comes a Time” and Dylan’s “She Belongs to Me” are all seldom-heard revivals peculiar to 1985 and receive sterling renditions, and Bob Weir’s rave-up on the rarely-performed “Gloria” caps the show in grand fashion. Collector types will also note that this show provides the only instance of “Lost Sailor” and “Saint of Circumstance” being separated from each other in a set. Disc three adds nearly 40 minutes of bonus material from a September 2, 1980 show at the Community War Memorial in Rochester, NY, and all 40 minutes are devoted to a sublime medley of “Space”/”Iko Iko”/”Morning Dew”/”Sugar Magnolia.” Late-period Dead at its best!

Songs

Disc One

Set One

1. Dancing in the Streets

2. Cold Rain and Snow

3. Little Red Rooster

4. Stagger Lee

5. Me and My Uncle

6. Big River

7. Brown-Eyed Woman

8. Jack Straw

9. Don’t Ease Me In

Disc Two

Set Two

1. Samson and Delilah

2. High Time

3. He’s Gone

4. Spoonful

5. Comes a Time

6. Lost Sailor

7. Drums

Disc Three

Set Two (cont.)

1. Space

2. Saint of Circumstance

3. Gimme Some Lovin’

4. She Belongs to Me

5. Gloria

6. Keep Your Day Job

Bonus Material from Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY 9/2/80

7. Space

8. Iko Iko

9. Morning Dew

10. Sugar Magnolia

Article originally appeared on Real Gone Music (http://www.realgonemusic.com/).